Kalista · ADC
Kalista Laning Guide
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This guide is assembled by the site from match data and the game's own information — nobody wrote it by hand. Official and community guides appear alongside it when they exist.
Overview
Bot is a two-on-two: your support decides a lot of the lane. Last hit, trade when your support engages and track the enemy jungler for dragon. Early, dragon is the objective of your lane: have your wave pushed when it spawns.
Strengths
- Long attack range (525) for safe trades in lane.
- High physical damage: Riot rates it 8/10 in attack.
- Mobility: Martial Poise lets you reposition, engage or escape.
Weaknesses
- Fragile: Riot rates it 2/10 in defense.
- Needs protection from the team in fights.
Build cheat sheet
Pick the build that fits what you want to do this game.
- Lane buildBalancedRecommendedHow to open: starting items, then the components of Stormrazor on your first backs, and boots when the lane allows.
- Standard buildBalancedAdvancedThe default path: Stormrazor, Yun Tal Wildarrows and Blade of The Ruined King give the attack damage, critical strike and attack speed this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Builds
Lane build
When to use it
How to open: starting items, then the components of Stormrazor on your first backs, and boots when the lane allows.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- Bottom (ADC)Main100% of matches
Starting items
Early game
Core items
- 1Stormrazor
Boots
Runes
Primary· Precision
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
Flash
Heal
Standard build
When to use it
The default path: Stormrazor, Yun Tal Wildarrows and Blade of The Ruined King give the attack damage, critical strike and attack speed this class relies on. Pick it when you have no reason to adapt. Built from Riot's item tags and the champion's class; Riot publishes no build statistics.
Where it's played
Picked before the game: the main lane first, then the alternatives.
1100%- Bottom (ADC)Main100% of matches
Starting items
Core items
- 1Stormrazor
- 2Yun Tal Wildarrows
- 3Blade of The Ruined King
Boots
Situational
Runes
Primary· Precision
Secondary· Inspiration
Shards
Summoner spells
- Flash
- Heal
Abilities
Martial PoisePassiveEnter a movement command while winding up Kalista's basic attack or Pierce to lunge a short distance when she launches her attack.Passive — moves you. It works on its own: play around it.
QPierce9s60/65/70/75/80 mpThrow a fast moving spear that passes through enemies it kills.- Cooldown
- 9
- Cost
- 60·65·70·75·80
- Range
- 1150
WSentinel30sGain bonus damage when Kalista and her Oathsworn strike the same target. Activate to send a soul to scout out the path, revealing the area in front of it.- Cooldown
- 30
- Range
- 5000
ERend30 mpAttacks impale their targets with spears. Activate to rip the spears out, slowing and dealing escalating damage.- Cost
- 30
- Range
- 1000
RFate's CallUltimate160/140/120s100 mpKalista teleports the Oathsworn ally to herself. They gain the ability to dash toward a position, knocking enemy champions back.- Cooldown
- 160·140·120
- Cost
- 100
- Range
- 1000
Strategy
1Starting and early items
The first items decide how comfortable the lane is. The lane build below lists them with what each one gives you.
- Key early items: B. F. Sword and Cloak of Agility.
2Trading
Auto-attack the enemy when they walk up to last hit, and step back behind your minions as soon as they answer. The kit brings mobility with Martial Poise.
3Wave management
Freeze the wave near your tower when you're weaker, slow push before a back and crash the wave when you want to roam or take a plate.
4Early objectives
Early, dragon is the objective of your lane: have your wave pushed when it spawns. Your spikes are level 6, when Fate's Call comes online, and each completed item: Stormrazor first, then Yun Tal Wildarrows.
Tips
- Auto-attack the enemy when they walk up to last hit, and step back behind your minions as soon as they answer.
- B. F. Sword is your first purchase that changes the lane: get it early.
- Keep Martial Poise ready when the enemy's gankers are missing.
- Rend is a valuable last hitting aid, since its cooldown resets if it kills a target.
- Early, dragon is the objective of your lane: have your wave pushed when it spawns.
Matchups
Strong against
Kalista attacks from 525 units and Nilah from 225: every trade in lane happens at a distance they cannot answer.
Fate's Call lets Kalista reach Corki, who has no escape in the kit.
Fate's Call lets Kalista reach Smolder, who has no escape in the kit.
Changelog
- Guide created for patch 16.19.1.
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